October 20, 2011

Alcatel-Lucent's solution for real-time traffic management

News Report

As reported in a recent press release, Alcatel-Lucent announced it will conduct a six-month trial of a new system to ease road congestion in the City of Vélizy-Villacoublay, a key enterprise zone south-west of Paris. The system will improve information to motorists, providing advance warning of delays and suggestions for alternative routes, reducing journey times and the impact of pollution created by traffic congestion. It will also play a part in regional traffic and road planning in the area.

Vélizy -Villacoublay is located 14km south-west of the center of Paris. With major corporate offices, a large shopping center, factories and a French military airbase in the area, its roads are frequently congested at peak hours.

The Technology

The Vélizy-Villacoublay Traffic Measurement Trial is to use Alcatel-Lucent’s Intelligent Travel Time System (ITTS) and Bluetooth® technology to measure traffic flow in real time, with roadside sensors detecting the presence of Bluetooth devices embedded in vehicles such as mobile phones and navigation systems. For local traffic authorities, real-time information gained from being able to observe traffic patterns throughout the day can help improve future planning of road and lane systems.

For motorists, using information based on route selection using on-line maps, the system provides accurate, real-time monitoring, advanced warning of road conditions and of special events such as sports competitions. It also predicts road congestion, providing personalized travel-time predictions and alternative route plans.

The ITTS system delivers this information to the motorist through road signs, radio, and mobile devices including phones and television, and through the use of internet sites such as Twitter.

Under the trial, Alcatel-Lucent is providing its Intelligent Travel Time System including ITTS Sensor and ITTS Traffic Monitoring System (TMS) to monitor the traffic congestion. Alcatel-Lucent is also providing installation, consulting, design, software integration and remote technical and maintenance support as well as system training to the City of Vélizy-Villacoublay.

Comments

Monique Loison, Deputy Mayor of the City of Vélizy-Villacoublay said:“Following the release of Alcatel-Lucent’s new real-time information technology, we were keen to test this solution so that we can help our citizens and those who work in our business area, Inovel Parc, to estimate their daily travel times. In this way, all of us can adapt our daily travel schedules and therefore better plan our professional and personal lives. Velizy-Villacoublay welcomes this trial with great interest, especially since we are the first town in France to test this real-time traffic management innovation developed by the world-renown Bell Labs”.

Pascal Homsy, CEO and Chairman of Alcatel-Lucent France said“Alcatel-Lucent’s expertise in the management of transport systems allows us to offer a cost-effective, easily deployable solution that benefits motorists and local authorities by providing increased information and improving road-safety. By reducing traffic congestion, the ITTS indirectly helps to reduce fuel waste and pollution and the roadside sensors are powered by alternative energy sources, so there is also a positive effect on the environment.”